The Oregon Department of Human Services has learned it will receive a $1.2 million federal grant to support persons living with HIV/AIDS who have a co-occurring mental illness.

DHS is one of four applicants nationwide to be selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The three-year competitive grant is through HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program. The DHS proposal was awarded as a special project of national significance.

"For people living with HIV, having a stable place to live makes a huge difference in helping them stay as well and independent as possible," said Susan Allan, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., state health officer in the DHS Public Health Division. "Many of these individuals are living on very restricted incomes, which adds to the challenge. We look forward to working with our partners to reach those in greatest need."

Cascade AIDS Project and Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare will partner with DHS to implement the project. Clients located in the five-county Portland metropolitan area and the eight counties along the I-5 corridor will be eligible to receive assistance. These areas have the highest concentrations of Oregonians living with HIV/AIDS, according to Allan.

The DHS HIV Care and Treatment Program already receives funding through three other HOPWA grants that provide stable housing and related services to low-income persons living with HIV and their families who are or have been homeless, or at risk for homelessness. The new grant will fund housing and supportive mental health services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and co-occurring mental illness.

Cascade AIDS Project is the leading community-based provider of HIV services, housing and education in Oregon and southwest Washington. Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare is Oregon's largest provider of community-based outpatient and residential mental health and addictions treatment services and housing for low-income individuals and families.

The DHS HIV Care and Treatment Program is one of many public health programs that focus on disease prevention and health promotion to help Oregonians remain productive, independent and healthy.